1. Punctuation Lesson Amanda Kozlowski Maureen Sessa

2. Apostrophe

3. Uses with Possession Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show singular possession. Examples: • Lisa’s scarf, that boy’s hat, that dog’s bone, that building’s window.

4. Uses with Plurals Make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe. Examples: • the Joneses' golf clubs, both James’ bikes

5. Contractions Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter(s) has removed. Examples: • Don’t instead of Do not • Isn’t instead of is not • Should’ve instead of should have

6. Parentheses

7. Use parentheses to enclose words or figures that clarify or are used as an aside. Example: I have four hundred and fifteen dollars and thirty five cents. ($415.35)

8. Use full parentheses to enclose numbers or letters used for listed items. Example: We need the following to fulfill an orderly event: (1) three cakes (2) fifteen tables (3) thirty two chairs, etc…

9. Colon

10. A colon should not precede a list unless it follows a complete sentence; however, the colon is a style choice that some publications allow. If a waitress wants to make a good impression on her customers and boss, she should (a) dress appropriately, (b) calculate the bill carefully, and (c) be courteous to customers.There are three ways a waitress can make a good impression on her boss and her customers: (a) Dress appropriately.(b) Calculate the bill carefully.(c) Be courteous to customers.

11. Semicolon

12. Use a semicolon in place of a period to separate two sentences where the conjunction has been left out. • I have paid my dues; therefore, I expect all the privileges listed in the contract. They also introduce a list following a complete sentence. • You will want to bring many backpacking items; for example, sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.

13. Hyphen

14. Separates two word nouns Examples: Eye-opener, air-condition

15. Can be used to separate adjectives or numbers. Good-looking man, well-known restaurant thirty-two children, twenty-four hours

16. Dash

17. En Dash • Used for periods of time when you might otherwise use to. Usually the width of an n. • Examples:The years 2001–2003January–June

18. Em Dash • May replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. • Examples:You are the friend—the only friend—who offered to help me. • Never have I met such a lovely person—before you.

19. Comma

20. Commas separate two strong clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction--and, or, but, for, nor. Example: He likes to ski, but, he also loves to surf.

21. Descriptions should be surrounded by commas. Example: That girl, with the red hair, is on the track team.

22. Use a comma after starting a sentence with a weak clause. Example: This afternoon, I lost my dear friend.

23. Commas separate two adjectives when the word and can be inserted between them. Example: My sister is a beautiful, intelligent girl.

24. Elipsis

25. Shows that it is a specific part of an excerpt of somethingUse no more than three marks whether the omission occurs in the middle of a sentence or between sentences. Example: • Original sentence from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."Rewritten using ellipses:"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth...a new nation, conceived in liberty..."